Karla Gust – Remember Your Why

As a thriving pharmaceutical sales professional, Karla Gust absolutely loved her career. When a company downsizing and subsequent layoff coincided with her first pregnancy, Karla reluctantly chose to take the time as a rather unconventional maternity leave. “It was a stressful time. While my husband has a great job in the financial industry, we’d gotten accustomed to living with two incomes — and my job came with a company car and great benefits. We thought we were set for starting a family. But getting laid off at that crucial time pulled the rug out from under us.”

Returning to work

Karla planned to start looking for another job after having her daughter. “I had no intention of being a stay-at-home mom. I loved my career, and always envisioned myself working until I retired. But once my daughter arrived, my world changed. Those first few months of being home with her really flew by. My own mom passed away when I was seven years old, and when I had my daughter I realized again that you just don’t know how much time you have. I wasn’t going to miss a moment with my kids. I would do whatever it took, even if it meant creating a job for myself or readjusting our priorities.”

A while after welcoming a second child into their young family, Karla started looking for ways to make extra income from home. “We had begun whittling away at our savings, so we drastically cut our expenses. I stayed up late scouring the internet for part-time jobs, taking up weekend trade shows and other part-time work. But my heart was really leading me to do something flexible that would allow me to stay home. My husband and I worked opposite shifts, so we didn’t have very much family time at all. I had really started to dread working on the weekends, because I longed to spend that time with our family. I needed to do something different.”

Gust Family- Karla and Chad and their kids, Greta, Christian, and Neva. The gift of this business allows Karla’s days to revolve around her family and to never miss a moment with her kids.

Starting her own business

In August 2012, Karla struck up a conversation with a new friend at a weekend trade show, and heard about Rodan + Fields for the first time. She immediately keyed into what the Company had to offer, and wanted to get involved. “I wasn’t really a skincare person, but I have a marketing degree and I saw the chance to partner with these two highly respected businesswomen and their reputable brand as a really smart business move.”

Karla loved that this opportunity allowed her to work around her family, but her husband Chad was hesitant. “It seemed like a no-brainer to me. I would be able to put my children first and work R+F into the nooks and crannies of our life together. My husband was really skeptical, but now we’re both so glad I didn’t listen to his doubts. Starting my own business has been the best thing I’ve ever done for my career!”

Karla with her aunt, Roberta Schmidt (a consultant on her team) at a corporate event in Charlotte, NC. One of Karla’s favorite parts of R+F is being able to working with dear family and friends.

Reaching early milestones

With two young ones at home, Karla started building her new business in small increments of about 30 minutes a day, and kept remembering her reason why. “I drew a line in the sand and said, ‘Why not me? If other Independent Consultants can do it, I’m going to do it, too. No matter how long it takes me, I’m going to make this work.’” Karla’s consistent work produced additional income that helped with the family’s financial situation. “I earned back my initial investment and within six months my monthly earnings were enough to cover our most stressful bills. Before the one-year mark, I hit Level V.”

With powerful encouragement from Upline leader Sarah Robbins at this pivotal point in her career, Karla felt ready to take on any challenge. “When Sarah pulled me aside to share her faith in me, I was a new Level V and didn’t know where my business was going to take me. That’s one huge moment in my R+F journey I’ll always remember. To me, it almost felt like a sign from my mom that I was in the right place — that this wasn’t just a business, but an opportunity that could change my life.”

The Gust Group celebrates their huge Lexus achievement in September 2016.

Seeing the results of change

Karla’s business was life-changing for her entire family. “I remember when I used my earnings to pay for a Disney cruise — our first vacation as a family. Then, due to the success of my business, I qualified for a free trip to Banff in June 2016 that really opened my husband’s eyes to what was possible with R+F. We traded my minivan in for a Lexus after my third year in business. We also purchased our dream home in February 2017, which was a huge leap for our family.”

Looking back at her previous career, Karla says, “There’s nothing that I miss. I feel like I’ve earned even better benefits than I had before, and I get to decide when and where I work. It’s the best of both worlds. Plus, I’m building a business that my husband and my kids can continue to benefit from in the future. I’m building my business so I don’t have to worry about the rug being pulled out from under us again.” She dreams of helping Chad cut back on work, achieving RFX, and helping her team members reach their own goals.

Christian, Greta, and Neva with their bichon, Sofie. Being able to show her kids that she can be home with them while still having a successful career has been such a gift.

Sharing her motivation

As Karla explains, “What drives me now is helping people on my team get to this place. I love to see people push themselves, and I’m passionate about helping others see that they can do this, too. Anything is possible if you just have an ounce of belief. I love showing my kids that you can succeed if you put in the work, push yourself, and believe in yourself. I truly believe that anybody could be successful in this business — you just have to remember why you’re doing it, and decide you’re not going to give up.”

To contact Karla about joining her team or purchasing products, connect with herhere.

Tell Me More…

• Have there been any especially significant people in your R+F journey?My accountability partner, Lauren Whittaker. We locked arms two years ago and push each other on a daily basis to reach crazy big goals.

• Favorite restaurant?Red Lobster. I worked there in high school and college and still crave their seafood and garlic cheddar biscuits.

• Where do you draw your inspiration from in life?My family. They are my biggest cheerleaders and push me to believe I can do anything if I set my mind to it. I wouldn’t be here without their unwavering encouragement and support.

• What is your dream R+F trip?Any RFX Circle trip with an international destination. My passport is bare.

The information, materials and views provided by a Rodan + Fields Independent Consultant during this presentation are her or his own and do not necessarily represent the views of Rodan + Fields. Rodan + Fields makes no representations about the accuracy of the information. The stories shared may be atypical experiences among Consultants who join the business. Actual earnings vary significantly, and no income is promised or guaranteed. Potential Consultants are urged to perform their own due diligence prior to making any decision to participate.

For information regarding earnings under the Canada R+F Compensation Plan, see the Income Disclosure Statement. We estimate that in Canada the typical plan participant will earn between $1,700 and $2,000 CAD per year.

The Redefine Your Future blog is a small percentage of what Consultants have achieved, but does demonstrate what is possible with Rodan + Fields. There are many ways Consultants find success and enjoyment in the business, such as attaining great skin, gaining valuable business skills, and building relationships. Disclaimer: Personal testimonials reflect individual experiences of Rodan + Fields Consultants. Rodan & Fields, LLC makes no guarantee as to the amount of income, if any, that Consultants participating in the business opportunities described on this website will generate. As with any business, each Consultant’s business results may vary, and will be based on, among other factors, such Consultant’s individual capacity, business experience, expertise, and motivation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the information on this website and are urged to perform their own due diligence prior to making any decision to enroll. For more information regarding earnings under the R+F Compensation Plan, see the Income Disclosure Statement.